Jeff’s Words

The internet has allowed the development of converged mass media. News websites number the hundreds of thousands – both “official” media and self run “citizen” news sites, such as OhMy News.

An increase in the ammount of news online has brought together the need to build stories up in to a non linear format providing a wealth of information for the user.

As newspaper sales decline, publications have established strong positions in online news and tend to be much more developed in their multimedia or converged offerings than broadcast media counterparts, certainly in Australia, at least.

Story Building involves brings together a team from across the newsroom to work on special, expanded coverage. Stories are given multimedia enhancements, such as, video, audio, images, graphics, slideshows etc to build up the story and provide content that not only informs but compels the viewer.

Online news is continuously updated and allows for add ons to be added on after the initial first report. This builds upon special coverage that is given multiple pages in a print publication. Similar to print, extended coverage is given, but its taken to the next level, providing audio, visual and other effects impossible in print, or “old media.”